ICUF Announces Graduates of 2019 Financial Coach Program

POSTED on May 16, 2019 IN ICUF

The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) is proud to announce the graduates of our 2019 ‘People Helping People' Financial Coach Program.

Des Moines, Iowa – The Iowa Credit Union Foundation (ICUF) is proud to announce the graduates of our 2019 ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program. Held May 7-9, 2019, in West Des Moines, 39 attendees from 22 different credit unions participated in three days of intense learning and simulation to help them grow in understanding of how a person’s relationship with money can impact their financial decision making and lead to potential hardship. Financial coaches are member advocates who can help credit union members navigate difficult financial situations.

“According to the 2018 United Ways of Iowa ALICE Report, Iowans are in the midst of a savings crisis,” said Jaimie Miller, Executive Director of ICUF. “We believe strongly that credit unions can have a greater impact on the communities they serve by providing needed financial coaching, helping members set financial goals and assist in determining the best way forward when situations seem dire.”

The curriculum for the ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program was developed in partnership with Adam Carroll, founder of National Financial Educators. Attendees also received training in unconscious bias from Claudia Schabel, founder and president of Schabel Solutions.

“In developing this training program, we focused not only on how to be a financial coach, but also why financial coaches are needed,” said Carroll. “Financial habits are something that are developed over time and are as unique as the individual. Learning how to have meaningful financial discussions with members and how to uncover potential issues that may be leading to hardship can have a great impact on the services that a credit union is able to provide.”

The graduates of the 2019 ICUF ‘People Helping People’ Financial Coach Program are:

  • Jodi Allen, Iowa Credit Union League
  • Jennifer Alstott, Fort Dodge Family Credit Union
  • Ellen Andrews, DuTrac Community Credit Union
  • Mandy Beckman, Peoples Credit Union
  • Samantha Bierman, Members Community Credit Union
  • Abbie Cross, Financial Plus Credit Union
  • Kari Dake, Financial Plus Credit Union
  • Jean Ditter, Gas and Electric Employees Credit Union
  • Ryan Francis, North Star Community Credit Union
  • Jose Garcia, Des Moines Metro Credit Union
  • Greta Hart, First Federal Credit Union
  • Jeffrey Hayes, North Star Community Credit Union
  • Lisa Heath, First Class Community Credit Union
  • Jeff Holschuh, Advantage Credit Union
  • Brooke Holven, MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union
  • Carly Husman, North Star Community Credit Union
  • Adam Lenze, Premier Credit Union
  • Jennifer Littleton, Members Community Credit Union
  • Kayla Martens, 1st Gateway Credit Union
  • Dan McGovern, Alliant Credit Union
  • Julia Michalec, Metco Credit Union
  • Geneva Miesner, Greater Iowa Credit Union
  • Brenda Morrow, Financial Plus Credit Union
  • Leah Oneyear, Premier Credit Union
  • Morgan Phelps, Dupaco Community Credit Union
  • Mack Rankin, Greater Iowa Credit Union
  • Eric Sailsbury, River Valley Credit Union
  • Breezie Saldana, Des Moines Metro Credit Union
  • Brandon Scheitlin, Alliant Credit Union
  • Stacy Schutte, 1st Gateway Credit Union
  • Mallory Smith, Citizens Community Credit Union
  • Kyle Sommers, Collins Community Credit Union
  • Angie Sorenson, Gas and Electric Employees Credit Union
  • Chelsea Steele, Premier Credit Union
  • Michelle Stelken, Alliant Credit Union
  • Beth Weiland, DuTrac Community Credit Union
  • Jennifer Wilson, Peoples Credit Union
  • Marissa Wolfgram, MEMBERS1st Community Credit Union
  • Jennifer Wright, Iowa Heartland Credit Union

Each graduate of the program received a coaching resource book, as well as access to an online educational portal to continue their growth as financial coaches over time. This was the first year the financial coaching program was offered by ICUF.

“The mission of the Iowa Credit Union Foundation is to empower people and communities to achieve financial well-being by championing the credit union philosophy of people helping people,” said Danielle Gratton, Board Chair of ICUF. “We do this through offering critical programs such as the financial coaching program for credit union employees. Financial coaches make a difference, and we hope Iowa credit unions can be at the forefront of positively impacting the financial well-being of Iowans.”

About the Iowa Credit Union Foundation
Founded in 1995 as the philanthropic arm of the Iowa Credit Union League, the Iowa Credit Union Foundation's (ICUF) primary focus is the championing the financial well-being of Iowans through credit unions. ICUF seeks to carry out its mission to empower people and communities to achieve financial well-being by championing the credit union philosophy of people helping people, through its various programs, grants and scholarships. For more information, visit www.IowaCreditUnionFoundation.org.

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